Type-writing machine.



L CMMcLAUGHUN. I TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13)I9I5.

.Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

'ATTORNEY lNVENTOR:'

J. C. McLAUGHLIN. TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

I APPLICATlON FILED APR. I3. 1915.. Jan. 2,

3 su'zsrs-snsn 2.

WI'TNESSES: N v I 'NVENTOm W v -33 m,

Lg I rd ATTORNEY.

STATES o Joint oncmpennm, or ma CITY, new JEasnr,.-Assmnon 'r nnnnnwocn.

*mnwnnnn comm, or NEW YORK, 1v.- Y., A eonronn'rioiv'or ELAwann- TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JoH I C. McLApoH- Luna citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain nonly operated by a universal barlying in .the path of the type bars, and actuatedat each type stroke. The universal bar is usually operated'only during the final por-v tion of thetypesstroke, andIas the type bar is moving. with .greatfrapidity' as it approaches the platen, the time permitted for the ribbonvibrator to be thrown up to position over .the, printing point'by the univer-" sal bar'is eittremely short, so that the vibrator must be moved with greatrapidity. The,

usual devices cannot be relied on to throw the ribbonto operative position ahead of culties are accentuated when abichrome ribbonis used, because of the fact that the color bands are narrow and. do not permit of much latitude in the position of the ribbon over the printing point, ;and['also because of" the greater throw of the ribbon needed to bring the lower color band over the printing point. a

An object of the present invention is to overcome thesev difiicu'lties by providing means to secure acomparatively high speed of the ribbon vibrator during the initial por-v tion of its throw, so that theribbon is positioned over the printing point, before the type'is very close to the platen, the final movement of the ribbon being comparatively slow, thereby reducing the tendency to overthrow.-

The invention further provides'improved means for positively stoppingthe vibrator with the ribbon over the printing point, thus I i-p'ositively preventing overthrow of the ribbon. Such stopping means is' designed to Specification of llette'rs Patent.

Application filed April '13; 1915. Serial No. 20,987.

be effective for different vcasepositions oi the platen, and with either color band op er'ative.

The invention further provides a compact. arrangement of the ribbon vibrating mecha nism in close proximity to the, universal bar, and in which the operationof the universal baron said mechanism is direct, and lost motion and yielding of parts eliminated or reduced to a minimum; Accuracy and formity in the; operation 'ofthe ribbon'vibrator are thus attained. a I Y The invention further provides an improvedform of universal bar andsupporting' means therefor, designed etc-prevent springing or distortion of the bar when struck by the; outlying type'ba'rs, thus insuring a uniform; action of the'universal bar and ribbon vibrating mechanism for all the type bars.

In practising the invention, the ribbon vibrator or 'gulde .may be moved up and down by a vibrator lever pivotally mounted on a plate or support, the latter 'shiftaiile up and down with the platen to maintain the ribbon in operative relationto the platen for 'both case positions The said support may also have mounted thereon an actuator in the form of a bell crank,'one arm of which is connected through a link to the vibrator lever, said arm and lever'forming a toggle. The other arm of the bell crank is connected through a switch to the universal bar, so that when the'universal bar is actuated by a type bar, the bell crank op crates through-said link to throw the ribbon vibrator up over the printing point.

The toggle formed by the bell crank arm and link multiplies the movement transmitted to they vibrator, and the arrangement of said arm-and link is such that the parts of the toggle are moved toward a straight line position during the upward throw of the vibrator.- The result of this arrangement is that the speed'of the-vibrator relative to the bell crank actuator is comparatively'high at the commencement of the throw, and is gradually reduced throughout the throw. The ribbon is thuspositioned over the print ingpoint before the type is very. close therebon is also reduced. c y The switch may be pivoted .on the univer- .to, and the tendency-to overthrow the I color band may be brought into activity. A

stop" to-prevent overthrow of the ribbon may be shifted by the switch wherebydifi'erent stop surfaces of the stop are brought into operative positions corresponding to the operative color band. The universal bar may providing a rigid construction preventing distortion of the bar under the stress of out- 137mg yre bars striking the universal bar "adjacent its ends. e

"Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a embodiment of my invention as applied to an 7 Underwood typewriting machine, Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevation view, partly in section, and indicating in brokenlines the positionof the platen. The ribbon vibrating mechanism is] shown in the position assumed when-the laten is in lower case position, the lower co or bandoperative, and the vibrator in its lower or normal position of rest. Fig. 2 is sectional side elevation of the machine, the parts being. in the; sameposition as in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive illustrate various positions of the ribbon vibrating mechanism,

when the type bar isin printing position. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation showing the platen in lower case position and the upper color band operative. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation view, the parts being in the same position as in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows the platen in lower case position, and the lower color band operative. Fig.6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the relation of parts when the platen is in upper case position. Fig. 7 is a rear elea5 vation showing'the position of parts when the lower color band is operative and the platen in upper case position. Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation with the parts in the Fig. 7 position. Fig. 9 is a rear perspective'view showing the parts in theirnormal positions of rest, the upper color band being. operative. Fig. .10 is a rear elevation view with the ribbon mechanism in non-printing position. Fi'gill is a diagrammatic view.

Referring to Fig. 2, the roller platen 11 is journaled in the platen frame 12, mounted on the carriage .13 and shiftable up and down thereon .to bring the platen to upper eo-and lower case positions. A roller 14 on the platen frame runs on a shift rail 15 which may be operated by the usual shift keys for shifting the platen. The'type bars 16 fulcrumed on a rod 17, are actuated by keys 18 connected to the type bars through I be supported on a hanger comprising a rock shaft having arms pivoted to the bar and.

bell cranksl19, so that the depression of a key 18 throws the connected type bar upwardly and rearwardly to cause a type 20 thereon. to strike against the front face of.

-.rocker 21, and an' escapement wheel 22,

which the dogs 23 in said rocker engage, the dog-rocker being actuated by',a universal bar at each type-stroke. A pinion 24 connected to-drive the escapement wheel 22 during theletter-feed travel of the carriage,

runs'in mesh with a rack 25 on the carriage.

The universal bar 26 lies in the path of 1 s'houlders27 on the type bars 16, and at each type stroke, a shoulder 27, strikes the universal bar as the type bar approaches the printing point and moves the universal bar rea-rwardly, a'rearward extension 28 of the universal bar striking the dog rocker to actuate the latter. The extension 28 has a sliding connection with. a standard 29 onthe machine frame, whereby the bar is supported and guided.

The universal bar is hung on 'a rocker frame comprising a rock shaft 30, which may be supported on the machine frame, and has depending rock arms 32 pivotally connected at 33 with the universal bar near the ends thereof. This arrangement prevents any twisting-or distortion of the universal bar when-struck adjacent its end by an outlying type bar. In other words, the frame 30, 32, prevents either end of the universalbar from springing or yielding without an equal movement in the same direction of the entire bar. The operation of the universal bar in transmitting motion from the type bars to the escapement mechanism and ribbon vibrating mechanism is thus uniform and reliable'for all the type bars.

Referring to Fig. 9, the ribbon vibrating mechanism comprises a ribbon vibrator or guide 34 through which the ribbon 35 is threaded, a'nd by which said ribbon is vibrated over the printing point at each typeprises an upper blackband 36, and a lower red band 37. The vibrator is actuated by a vibrator lever 38 connected 'by the pivot 39 to the vibrator and pivoted at 40 to a support 41. This support is shown as a plate mounted on the rear face of thetype bar segment 31, and shiftable up and down I thereon with the platen frame, as the latter is shifted to upper and lower case positions, thereby maintaining the ribbon vibrator in operative relation to the" platen in both case positions. I

The means for shifting the support 41 with the platen, comprises a bracket 42 se-- calthrow'bf the forward end of said bracket,

as compared with the throw of the shift rail 15, owing to the greater distance of said forward end of the bracket from the horizontal fulcrum about which rotates the shift.

' platen is shifted from lower to upper case position, the support/41 is lifted the same distance as the platen, and the relationof the ribbon and platen thereby remains unchanged.

Theribbon vibrator lever 38 is actuated by a bell crank lever 44 connected by a pivot.

45 to an arm or bracket 46 fixed to and projecting rearwardly' and downwardly from the plate 41. The bell crank comprises a de-. pending arm 47 having pins 48 and 49, projecting from opposite sides thereof and adapted to engagerespectively slots 50 and 51, in a switch 52, connectcd by a pivot 53 to an up-turned lug 54v of the. universal bar 26. The rearwardly extending arm 55 of the-bell crank is connected through a link I 56 with the. lever 38, the link being pivoted bell crank.

at 57 to'the bell crank and connected by a ball-and-socket' joint 58 to the lever. 38.

The link 56, (see Figs. 3 and 4) is bent at 59, the lower end of the link being bifurcated as shown, to straddle the arm 55 of the bell crank. It will be understood, however, that thislink may be straight or made in some other form if desired.

WVhen the parts are adjusted for printing through the upper color band, (Figs. 3 and 4), with the platen in lower case position, the pin 49 on the bell-crank is in engagement with the slot 51 of the switch, so that when a type bar 16 is thrown up to the platen,'the rearward movement of the universal bar when struck by the type bar, carries the switch rearwardly and swings the The movement of the bell crank arm 55 imparts an upward thrust to the link 56, thereby actuating the lever 38, and moving the color band 36 over the printing point.

- It will be observed that the bell crank arm 55 and the link 56 together form a toggle, and that the members of the toggle are moved toward a straight line position during the type-stroke. As a result of this arment of the arm 55"of the bell crank, is

greatest at the beginning of the upward throw of the vibrator, and gradually deof-the universal bar, so that theribbon is well advanced over the printing line before the type bar is very close to the platen. In-

terference between the type bar and ribbon is thus avoided and the proper positioning of the ribbon over the-printing point is assured. A further result of. this arrange .ment is that the ribbon is gradually slowed down and the tendency to overthrow is greatly reduced. It will be noted that with the toggle connection, the speed of thebell "crank is multiplied at the vibrator lever 38;

or, stated another way, the speed of the link at the point of connection 58 with the vibrator lever is approximately double that of thebell crank arm 55 at thepivot 57.

In order to bring the lower color band 37 intoactivity, the switch 52 is thrown to the position shown in Fig, 1, so as to withdraw the pin v49 from the slot 51, and project the pin 48 into the slot 50. The switch is actuated by keys 60 and 61, fixed to a rock shaft 62 to which is also fixed a rock arm 63 connected through a' link 64 to the switch. The pin 48 being nearer than the pin 49 to the fulcrum of the bell crank, a greater throw is imparted to the vibrator, and the latter is broughtto the position shown intau-permit the shifting of the bell-crank actuator relatively to the switch. I

Means to positively prevent overthrow of the'ribbon comprises a stop device 65, shown as-a rod slidably mounted in a horizontal sleeve 66, fixed to the shiftable support 41. A. pin 67 on the slidable stop device extends through a slot 68 in the sleeve 66, and projects rearwardly into a slot 69 in an arm 70, formed on the switch 52. A pin 71 on the ribbon vibrator forms a counter stop to .engage the stop 65 and thereby limit the upward throw of the vibrator.

\Vhen the switch is positioned (Fig. 4)

for printing through the upper color band,

position, to bring the lower color band into activity, the stop device 65, by. means of the slot-and-pin connection 67 69, is moved to the left (Fig. 1) to permit the "ibrato'r to move upwardly until the pin 71 has passed beyond the body of the stop device and. is arrested'by an upwardly offset extension 7 2. It will thus be seen that the stop device provides two stops which are alternatively brought intooperative position by the shifting of the switch, and the operative positions of said stops correspond to the positions of the ribbon in which the color bands are respectively operative. As .the stop 65' 'is mounted on the shiftable support 41, it is carried up and downwith the platen as the latter is shifted to, upper and lower case positions and thus provides-stopping means for thevibrator operative for all adjustments of the platen and ribbon mechanism.

When the platen is in upper case position the shifting pin 67 on the stop device is at a greater distance from thefpivot of the switch than when the platen'is in lower case position, The operation ofthe switch. arm

70, would therefore tend to shift-the stop 4 65 a greater distance, but thisis compensated for by increasing the width of the upper portion of the slot 69, thereby introducing lost motion between the switch and stop device.

Fig. 10 illustrates the switch 52 at an in-' termediate position in which'it is discon nected from'the actuating lever 44, so that the ribbon is silenced; that is, it is not'vibrated over the printing point when the types are actuated. The switch is locked in non-printing position by a locking lever 73, pivoted at .74, and provided-with a slot to receive a pin 7 5 on the key lever 7 6. v

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention, and portions of the invention may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

'1. The combinationwith a ribbon vibrator and a universal bar, of means for transmitting motion from the universal bar to the vibrator, said means comprising a bell crank having an arm to which a forward and rear ward movement is imparted by the universalfbar, and an arm having an up and down movement, and a link-connected between said last-mentioned arm and the vibrator for moving the latter up and down, said lastmentioned arm and link forming 'a toggle arranged to gradually decrease the speed of the vibrator relative to that of the actuator during the upward throw of the vibrator. a

2. The combination with a platen shiftable to upper and lower case positions, of a universal bar, a ribbon vlbratpr, an actu ating lever for said vibrator, a support on which said lever is mounted, said support being shiftable' up and down with the platen,

' a link between said lever and vibrator forming with said lever a toggle, and connections actuating lever with the vibrator lever and forming with said arm a toggle, and means to operate said actuating lever at each type stroke and cause the members of the toggle to be moved toward a straight line position on which said lever is mounted, means to .shift said support up and down with the platen, an actuating lever mounted on said support, a link connecting one arm of said actuating lever with the vibrator lever and forming with said arm a toggle, a universal bar actuated by the type-bars, and means providing a slot-a'nd-pin connection between the universal bar and said actuating lever permitting the latter to shift up and down with the platen, while maintaining an OP"? erative relation between the universal bar and actuating lever.

5. In a typewriting'machine, the combination with a platen shiftable to upper and lower case positions, of a ribbon vibrator, a vibrator lever connected thereto, a support on which said lever is mounted, means to shift said support up and down with the platen, an actuating lever mounted on said support.- a link connecting one'arm of said actuating lever with'the vibrator lever and forming with said arm a toggle, a universal bar operated at each type stroke, and a switch connected. to the universal bar, and shiftable thereon to connect the universal bar with said actuating lever at different distancesfromthe fulcrum of the lever to vary the throw of the latter and thereby vary the throw of the ribbon vibrator to bring the different color bands of a bichrome ribbon carried'by the vibrator into activity, the switch having a-slidable connection with the actuating lever while the switch is in either of its shifted positions to permit the actuating lever to shift up and down with the platen. v

6. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen shiftable up and down to upper and lower case positions, of a ribbon vibrator, a vibrator lever pivoted thereto, a support on which said lever is mounted, means to shift said support and vibrator lever up and down with the platen to thereby cause] the ribbon to be shifted up and down withi'the platen, a bell crank lever pivoted 0n said'fi support beneath said vibrator lever, and comprising a depending arm,

a universal bar operated at each type stroke and connected to said depending arm to impart a rearward movement thereto, the bell crank lever comprising a rearwardly extending arm having an up and down movement, and a link connecting said rearwardly eX- throw of the ribbon vibrator, to bring different color zones of the ribbon into activity, a stop device to limit the throw of the vibrator, and means operated by said shifting of the switch to shift the stop device and thereby vary the stopping position of the vibrator. 8. In ribbon mechanism for a typewriting machine, the combination with a vibrator for a bichrome ribbon, of means to actuate said vibrator, a stop device in the path of the vibrator for limiting the throw thereof, and a switch shiftable to vary the throw'of the vibrator to bring different color bands of the ribbon into activity, said stop device shiftable to different stop positions by said shifting of the switch, to thereby change the stopping position. of the vibrator. 9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of an actuator therefor, a platen shiftable to upper and lower case positions, a support on which said actuator is mounted, means to shift said support with the platen and thereby cause the vibrator to be shifted with the platen, a stop device mounted on said support and shiftable therewith, and a counter stop mounted to shift with the vibrator and platen to different case positions, said counter stop connected to vibrate with the vibrator and cooperating with said stop device to limit the throw of the vibrator.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of an actuator therefor, a platen shiftable to upper and lower case positions, a support on which said actuator is; mounted, means to shift said support with the platen? and thereby cause the vibrator to be shifted with platen, a stop device mounted on said support. and shiftable therewith, a counter stop on the vibrator and coiiperating with said stop device to limit the throw of the vibrator, means to vary the throw of the vibrator tobring different color bands of a ribbon into activity, and means to shift said stop device when the throw of the vibrator is changed, and thereby position the stop device to arrest the vibrator at the completion of the throw required to position the active color band over the printing point.

11. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with a platen shiftable to upbring different color bands of the vibrator, a bichrome ribbon carried thereby,

a universal bar, an actuator for said vibrator, a switch connecting the universal bar and actuator for operating the latter to throw the ribbon vibrator upwardly and position. the ribbon over the printing point, said switch shiftable to vary the connections between the universal bar and actuator, and thereby vary the throw of the vibrator to into activity, and a stop device to limit the throw of the vibrator, said stop device shiftable by saidshifting of the switch and having different stop surfaces thereby brought ,into position to arrest the vibrator at the completion of the throw required to position the active color band over the printing point. v

12. In ribbon vibrating mechanism for a, typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of' an actuator therefor, a universal bar, and a device forming a' connection between the universal bar and said actuator, said device pivotally mounted on. the 'universal bar and comprising wings, said device movable about its pivot to bring the ribbon per and lower case positions, of a ribbon the wings alternatively into operative relation-tothe 21CtUHt01,Sald wings .being divergent, and each brought into a position parallel with the plane of movement of the actuator when in operative relation to the actuator, and means to hold said device in an intermediate position in which it is disconnected from the actuator tosilence the ribbon vibrator.

loo

13'. In ribbon mechanism for a typewrit- I ing machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of an actuating lever therefor, a universal bar, switch pivotally mounted on the universal bar and-forming a connection between said bar and actuating lever, said switch comprising .divergent slotted wings on opposite sides of the actuating lever, pins on said lever at different distances from its fulcrum to'respectively engage the slotted wings, said switch movable -about its pivot to move said wings into engagement with said pins, each of said Wings when in engagement with a pin lying in a plane parallel with the plane of the actuating lever, and means to hold the switch in an intermediate position in which it is disconnected from both pins to silence the ribbon vibrator.

14;. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of means to shift the platen up and down comprising a shift rail,

.v a type-bar segment in front of said rail, a

ribbon vibrator, an actuator therefor, a support on which sa d actuator is mounted, said support mounted'to slide up and down on said segment, and a connection between the shift rail and said support to move the latter up and down with the shift rail.

I '15. In a typei vriting machine, the combination With aribbon vibratorand a platen shift rail located behind the vibrator, of asupporting plateinfront of the shift rail and at one side of the vibrator, a lever mounted on said plate and connected to the vibrator to operate the latter, a universal bar',- operating connections between the universal bar and said lever for actuating the JOHN G. MCLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses WV. 0. VVESTPHAL,

C. NEWELL. 

